School districts across Florida are rolling a little closer to being able to plaster ads on the side of the buses that travel residential neighborhoods picking up and dropping off children.
The Senate Transportation Committee, behind an 8-2 vote on Thursday, became the second committee to support SB 344, which would allow individual school boards to decide if they want to sell space on school buses to create revenue.
The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee backed the bill in a 4-2 vote on Jan. 9.
Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, who sponsored the bill, said the aim is to help school districts that are facing mounting fiscal costs, often driven by rising fuel costs.
My idea of a school bus is a little yellow school bus with happy children riding down a country road with a dog barking in the back, Montford said. But unfortunately were in times where we have to find every penny we can and this is just one more option for that.
The bill would allow each of the states school boards to decide if they want to use buses for advertising.
Signs for alcohol, tobacco and sexual material would be prohibited, as would be political or possibly discriminatory messages.
Montford noted that districts already have rules concerning advertising; often ads are allowed around ball fields, in programs and yearbooks.
Revenue generated from the bus ads would be split: 50 percent going back to the school district for transportation costs, 25 percent for the school districts classroom spending and the final 25 percent for any school district foundation.
A state analysis of the bill says revenue projections vary, but noted that school districts in Colorado annually collect from $5,000 to $10,000 per bus per year through advertising.
Speaking with reporters in his Capitol office Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott said the proposal doesnt bother me.
I tried that in one company, but I dont know if it works," he said. "Its hard to measure.
The House companion bill, HB 19, has also been supported by two committees, the K--20 Competitiveness Subcommittee and Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee.
Legislative watchdog Donna Sanford cautioned members of the Senate Transportation Committee that signs are distracting to other motorists, but also projected a potential slippery slope districts face in expanding where advertising can go.
If you pass this, you open our school board to the ads creeping down the hallway, theyll jump on the bulletin boards and the lockers and then theyll be on the toilet seats, Sanford said.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
